by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

MIAMI - Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has had enough of the criticism and second-guessing of his teammate and friend Derrick Rose.

With mounting calls for Rose to either say he will or won't play this season, Noah defended Rose, who tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the playoffs last season and has not played this season.

"Derrick is a brother," Noah said. "To see him go through his injury is tough. At the end of the day, it's really funny how quick people are to judge. People do not know what it's like to lead a team, especially after your tear your ACL."

Rose said on Monday he won't rule out his return this season because it's "still in the air. I might have a chance" to play this season.

The Bulls are injured and ill - guard Kirk Hinrich hasn't played the past four games due to a bruised left calf and forward Luol Deng has missed the past three games due to illness and complications from a spinal tap to test for viral meningitis.

TNT analyst and former Bulls guard Steve Kerr recently said, "If Derrick is OK and there's no threat to further injury, I think he's got to play. â?¦ Maybe he owes it to his teammates."

Noah spoke for his teammates, who beat the Brooklyn Nets in seven games in the first round and took a 1-0 lead against the Miami Heat in their Eastern Conference semifinals series.

"Everybody who hasn't been in that situation before should really shut up," Noah said. "It's unfair to him and his team. We're fighting. It's crazy to me. He's tough as nails. He doesn't let anything affect him."